He says he can’t call many news stories or sets of information “general falsehoods or widespread misinformation.”
Pakistan’s foreign ministry has denied any knowledge of alleged Pakistan-Afghanistan negotiations in Saudi Arabia, stating that Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan would remain closed until Kabul provided firm assurances that cross-border terrorist infiltration would be prevented.
At a weekly press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hassan Andrabi said: “I can check specific news and call it fake or not. However, I cannot call many news or sets of information as general fake or disinformation.”
The Foreign Ministry’s comments came in the backdrop of a Reuters report claiming that Pakistan and Afghanistan recently participated in a third round of peace talks in Saudi Arabia, jointly hosted by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Qatar. The report says no major progress was made, although both sides agreed to maintain the ceasefire.
Andrabi said the matter was not limited to just the TTP or the TTA, as several Afghan nationals had also been involved in serious crimes inside Pakistan. He stressed that the border closure must be seen in its proper security context.
Pakistan has no disputes with the Afghan people and has always facilitated humanitarian corridors, but its border policy was directly linked to Afghanistan’s practical cooperation in eliminating terrorism emanating from its soil, the spokesperson said.
He added that the border would be reopened only when Afghanistan ensured that terrorists and their facilitators would not enter Pakistan.
The spokesperson referred to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s earlier announcement about a high-level delegation’s visit to Islamabad, saying the change in schedule could be due to logistical issues or lack of cooperation from the Taliban. He said Pakistan had closed the border for its own protection and did not want its citizens to become victims of terrorism.
Responding to questions about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India and possible bilateral defense deals, Andrabi said Pakistan did not have a specific position on the matter as sovereign states were free to strengthen their relations independently.
However, he expressed concern about discriminatory policies targeting Muslims in India, saying state sponsorship had emboldened extremist groups. He noted that Saturday will mark the 33rd anniversary of the demolition of the Babri mosque and called the event a continuing source of pain.
He stressed the need for transparent accountability for damage caused to Muslim religious symbols and heritage, saying that the desecration of any holy site violated the principles of religious equality.
Andrabi also highlighted the Kyrgyz president’s recent visit to Pakistan, during which he held delegation-level meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Both countries agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance trade to $200 million by 2027-28.
The FO spokesperson said that 15 MoUs were signed during the visit and the Kyrgyz president addressed a business forum attended by more than 20 Kyrgyz companies and more than 80 Pakistani businessmen.
He added that Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had also met the Kyrgyz leaders and also received the Egyptian Foreign Minister during his visit to Islamabad, where Dar inaugurated the Islamabad conclave.
